The Sun. — London, England, 1809-07-19 00:00:00

1 , 1t0,11 THE Pdiiritz BADAJoi, Jt.7lli; 20.—His Excellency S. Don GREGORIA DE LA. CUESTA, under date of the inst. from his head-quarters at Miajudos, in a post script to a dispatch addreSsed to the Supreme Judta, states as follows :- " My advanced posts are at Xarauejo I the night before last the enemy evacuated Truxillo, destroying all their ammunition, and leaving behind them 7000 fanegas of wheat, and 800 quintals of flour, which. will not be ill-timed for us ; they have also left be hind General TRIAS, who is now recovered, though Still weak. JUNE 21. Extra& of a Dispatch, addressed to the Supreme junta, by his Excellency Don Is z °wiz MONTENZGRO I dated Ali_ sedgy, June 19, 1809. "In Neva, five leagues distance from Valencia de Maintara, there are four thousand men, who compose the vanguard of the English and Portuguese army ; they will successively pass through this town to the amount of twenty thousand men, of which it Consists. It intended to have stationed itself on the points of Valencia de Alcantara, Sans Vencente, and Albuqurque, but recent events appear to have deter inined it to advance, and, in faEt, we are assured that there are accounts from Alcantara, being in the vi cinity 'of Bazagonas and Placentia, on the 16th inst. just as the French troops had left Torrimscha, an English Colonel arid his servant entered, and inquired the route of the many, soon atter they were fol lOVved by about forty Spanish cavalry. VALENCIA, JUNE 13.—T0 esteem the French as they merit; it is necessary to know them intimately, and w;triess the prosperity enjoyed by wretched Bat telona, Saragossa, Madrid, and the other places oc cupied by these military philosophers and sons of wis dom and the otpnipOtent genius of Napoleon. The were suspicion of a conspiracy at Barcelona caused them to drag to the scaffold, without any. form of trial, some of the most respetiable citizens, after Laving shot a few for their amusement in the street, who went ort of their houses on the beat of the drum. This beat of drum was a mere trick of these executioneers to furnish an excuse for their slaughter, Ind a pretence for punishing an insurreatioual meet ing of tilt people. We do not know what had taken place at Sara gossa on the 3d instant, because the gates were shut, and the guards permitted no one to come in or go out. The common opinion in the neighbourhood was that a pillage of the place had began. It will be no wonder if, on the apprOach of General Blake, they should as usual abandon their position. The communication with Gerona is intercepted ; but we know, that the mighty men who have,ap 'proached that for have done little ; for the heavy artillery from the walls of the city, has, greatly thinned their ranks, and fertilised the soil with their blood. In the mean while considerable numbers of bar - troops are marching in their rear. TARRAGONA, JUNE s.—The skirmishes which take place in this country are incessant and greatly harass the French. The regular force of the•enemy preponderating over, our own, he has had the auda city to undertake the siege of Gerona. The division before that fortress has been reinforced by tour or 5000 Miquelettes, from French Roussillon. These troops are said to have been led by the traitors Gar riga and Duran. The enemy will not fail to be driven back with shame. PRIVATE LETTERS. " SEVILLE, JUNE 21.—The French • have passed the bridge at Almarez, and our advanced guard is at Xarenzejo. The army of Sebastiani is at Ocana ; and the advanced guard of our army of La Mancha 'is at Madridegos ; but as the enemy lay waste and ravage the country they pass through, our troops Cannot pursue them so rapidly as they wish." " LISBON, JUNE 29.—1 am told that the army of Carolina have already, established their head-quar ters at Manzanares ; that their advanced guard has proceeded to Villatta,. and .that the enemy was , at ConSuegid. This I hear from Seville, of the 21st instant. The ruffians under Vigor passed the Tagus at Alrnarez ; and on the 23d a tiring of cannon and Musquetry proceeded from the other side of the river, which was answered by our van-guard, com manded by Zayas, un this side. This firing, which ‘vis very brisk, had undoubtedly no other objea 'than to favour the retreat of their gram by keeping back our troops. On the 24th, the enemy left the Tagus, having destroyed the pontons. made use of, and our troops began to pass over in their boats. You see, therefore, that our soldiers are close at their heels ; and it would not be surprising if they were at this mometjt in Talavera de la Rey na. ,‘ We learn (by way of Seville) from Madrid, through letters of the lath instant, that a great agi tation.prevailed among the French there ; that they had; made a demand of pouci mules, and were 'taking .sway the valuables from the Retiro. " The English are already, on their march from Abrantes, and yesterday the head-quarters were to be removed. It appears that they were to dire& their course towards Coria and Placencia. Three thousand more English have just arrived here, ,- and vie are looking for others." LETTSE OF GENERAL BLAKE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT. " Head-quarters, Caspe, May 31, tBog. 11 MosT 11XCELLENT SIR--I communicated to you, on the 21 st instant, the evacuation of Alcaniz . - by the enernv, and their retreat to Hijar, Puebla de liijar, and Samper. In the latter place they left a pretty strong detachment. On the 21St 1 SCIA D. Casiwero Loy, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Spanish . Hussars, with 80 men of his regiment, and 200 volunteers of Valencia, to reconnoitre the positions of the enemy. He not only effe&ed his purpose, but attached the detachment 'stationed at Samper, forced them to abandon their quarters ar.d baggage, and'ietreat to Puebla de Hijar. " Meanwhile the enemy were joined by the troops which they expeded• from Zaragoza. to tlics • • . . Tiber of 106 d nal:. Haviug thus foree off' 10,600 inf . intrY, 800 cavalry, and twelve pieces of Cannon; they marched forwards to attack - us. informed of their movements, We prepared to giVe.thetn A proper reception. 1 "The plain of Alcanit, which has Witnessed thiS glorious action, is surrounded with mountains of unequal heights, and at various distances from the position which our troops occupied. At aboUt two musket shots from the city rise some hills accessible to cavalry, and divided in the centre by the road to the capital which sinks with a gentle gradation till - it reaches the plain. On these hills the main body of our army was placed; its flanks, supported by two batteries, which, as well as some others in the centre, proteCted effeaually the whole extent of our line. The part of the plain which lay on our right is the lowest, and forms a kind of fen, the more dan gerous, as it is -covered with trees. The heights which surround the orchard terminate at a short dis tance from this fen, and are commanded by a single hill, on 'the top of which stands .an hermitage, that serves as a key to the road to Caspe, which runs in that direction. In order to prevent the enemy frosts availing themselvs of the advantages which this position offered, it was occupied by 2000 men, com posed of the battalions i pf Daroca,. the reserve of Arragon, the sharp-shooters of Murcia, and the 2d division of the Volunteers of Arragon, under the command of Fieid-Marshal D. Juan Carlos Areizaga. " The vanguard were posted on one of the heights in front of our position, and consisted of a battalion of Ferdinand VII.I hree hundred men of the battalion of Volunteers of Valencia, two companies of grena diers of the regiment of America, and two others of that of Trailer, under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel D. Pedro Texada. " In the olive grounds on our left were placed our light troops, to prevent our being surrounded, and the cavalry, commanded by the Brigadier D. Miguel Ibarrola, took post in advance of our position on the road to Zaragoza. " At six in the morning the enemy shewed them selves on the heights in our front, and directed a warm fire against our advanced troops, which fell back towards the corps to which they belonged.— The vanguard, supported by the cavalry and several pieces of flying artillery, not being able to resist the superior numbeis of the enemy, retreated, the in fantry to the Hermitage, and the cavalry, under the proteaton . of our batteries, which began to fire on the enemy with no small effea. " It was necessary, to take possession of the Her mitage, and rout.the corps by whom it was defend ed, in order to attack our position. The enemy, therefore, advanced over the neighbouring heights towards the post guarded by A.reizaga ; but their fire of musketry and artillery was courageously sup ported ,and returned by our infantry, ,to the assist . - ance of which an obus had been sent. Yet the ene my did not desist from their attempt, but by an in cessant fire from ,the whole of their line, covered the march of a close column of 000 or 1000 grena diers, who, with their bayonets fixed, and horrid yells.,,tushed to the foot of the hill on which the Hermitage stood; but their impetuosity yielded to the firmness of our troops, and they soon slimed their backs to our warriors. " Perceiving that the enemy did not seem to have given up his intention of taking the post of the Her mitage, I ordered Colonel D. Martin De Manchaca to attack / their centre, in order to form a diversion in favour of our right. Notwithstanding this move ment, they renewed their attack on the Hermitage, and met with a similar repulse. I had previously ordered the cavalry to repair from the T oad of Zara.: goza to that of Caspe, to join Areizaga, but no sooner did it issue from the plain than it received a discharge from the French infantry, 'by which Bri gadier D. Miguel Ibarrola was wounded. Their ca valry then charged ours with great advantage, and compelled it to abandon' its position. Unable to force our right, the enemy suddenly attacked Man cliaca's advanced column. As it was merely intend ed to make a diversion, and whs not in a situation in which it could defend itself long, it fell back upon the main army, with the exception of the first light battalion of Zaragoza, which effeaed its rootreat to the Hermitage. This success induced the enemy to attempt passing through our centre. In order to - execute this bold design, they formed themselves in our front, and under the protection of a tremendous fire of musketry and 'artillery, sent a column of 2000 men by the road of Zaragoza, which passed through the middle of 'our position. In its course ) this co lumn routed every thing before it—neither the fire of our infantry, nor the quickly repeated discharges ot our artillery, were able to check its progress. Re solutely scorning every danger, it rushed impetuous ly forward to take pyssession of our centre batteries, and bad not fortunately the officers by whom they' were served preserved the most astonishing cool ness, and reserved their fire until the enemy almost touched the mouth of our cannons, the French had perhaps then succeeded to break our line. The fire of musketry of a battalion ot th 6 Ist and 2d regi ments of Valencia, and one of ►hat of America, placed on the left .ot our centre, contributed greatly to its security. In the frenzy of his attack the ene my almost succeeded in surrounding one of our bat teries ; butthose who had penetrated so far, perished by the fire'of our troops, and chiefly that ut the vo lunteers of Valencia. • "Suddenly the column destined to break through Our centre direCted its march towards the town, and depriving us of every hope of retreat, compelled Our troops to disperse themselVes. Yet the un daunted resistance which the enemy experienced in his attack ultimately frustrated the success of his audacious plan, and the French troops, who boasted of victory whenever they met ours, at last retired in disorder, leaving many dead on the spot which they had so lately passed in the 'confidence of victory .--- Our troops followed the French, who halted ott the heights where they had appeared at the beginning of the action. After seven hours firing; both armies re mained in sight of each other, divided only by the pleasant vale of Alcaniz, till night, of which the enemy availed himself to retreat, leaving a great quantity of spoils behind him. Five hundred French corpses have been found on the field of battle, Bncl by the reports of peasants who watched - the retreat of the enemy, it is calculated that his loss in killed and wounded cannothe less than 2000 Wen. JgAQUIN 13LAK.E." PRENCLt AND DUTCH t2.pEn::, , . MOEA, JUNE 24.'—The Brig a rived thiS ing at Toledo towards the Middle of the day,. On his journey the inhabitants, with the Clegy and Officers of Justice at their head,, received, and, ac companied his Majesty with transports of joy. The road was filled with the population of the most dis tant villages, who had run to pay their hoinage.— His Majesty told them; lie had already provided that all the provisions which they had furnished, dr which they should hereafter furnish for the serf ice of the troops, should be reimbarsed from the ordi nary cowribu'tions, till payment was completed.— Upon this occasion the King e%pressed his Satisfaction at the firmness with which many Alcades of this Pro Vince have repelled the banditti which the Junta of Seville had organized in it, and who subjected to requisitions and all sorts of extortions this unhappy country. Their most numerous corps, which con 4, sist of not more than 100 Men, are composed of robbers and scoundrels, formerly condemned by the tribunals, and since companies of smugglers, to whom the Junta has given dignities and dispensed honours. The system is the same which was em ployed Three years ago at Naples, and to . which the public indignation was sufficient to do justice. These horrible and sanguinary consequences tend to nothing less Than the destritation of a country.— The Alcades have begged of the King to permit the landholders to arm themselves against these brigands. His Majesty replied to them, that, upon his return to Madrid, he would occupy himself in the forrna tion of national yards in every place Which had given ,proofs of its zeal and fidelity, and especially in the province of Toledo, with which he is satis fied; but with these measures other military disposi tions will concur, which will WOO deliver the coun try from these incursions and from robbery ; but, above all, the great vii tories of his august brother in Germany wilt tend to procure - to the Continent a general peace ; that Spain will be the first to reap the benefits of a peace, of which she has so much need. Then will disappear all the evils attendant on the fanaticism of persons ever disposed to sutler themselves to be misled by chimerical hopes, when the Government can devote itself entirely to the care of establishing, upon solid foundations, political liberty, and when at last, surrounded by the true friends of their country, it is certain of arriving, at an end so desirable. The Kiag has manifested in A particular manner his goodness to the Bishop of Porto Rico, wheal' his Majesty bad already seen at Madrid, ,among the Members of the Deputations who went there to take the oath of fidelity in the name - ot the different, towns.--(Journal de l'Em pire, June . • SARAGOSSA; JUNE 21.—The 3d corps follows up its successes.. The f •tlowing Preclatna. ion has lust been published in the Order of the Day:-- SOLDIERS—The Emperor ordered me to come and replace the Mike of Abrantes, who so many times has vittortoosly coudutled you against the (tenches of Saragossa. The first day of my arrival I led a part of you against the enemy, and attacked him, in order to reconnoitre him. His superiority of numbers has made me resolve not to renew the attack, but to manoeuvre, in order to draw him frons his positions. We are unincurnhered with baggage —we have worked in construEting redoubts—we have armed the fort of Saragossa, chased and driven from their positions the bands of the enemy which were upon the left bank of the Ebro. Suddenly an army of 30,000 men, with a numerous train of ar tillery, came to penetrate our lines, .interrupt our convoys, and endeavour to surround us. It was upon this occasion that you proved, soldiers, what Frenchmen can do when impelled by confidence. — You have triumphed in the Wale of Saragossa ; you have taken 25 pieces of cannon, some caiions, three pair of colours ) and killed or taken a great niiinber of men. . _ Upon that (lay the 21 regiment of the Vistula shewed much firmness ; the 11th or the line, and Ist of the Vistula much vigour; the sth 'and the 12th light battalions, a boldness and an assurance beyond praise. The 4th regiment, of lfussars, has covered it self with glory. The cuirassiers of the 13th have proved themselves worthy to take a rank among the old regiments of the gees d'armes. The Po4sh troops have rivalled them. You have pursued the enemy by forced marches, you have attacked,the entrenched camp of Belchire, with the rapidity of lightning. The 14th regirl?ent, the Ist 'of the Vistula, and the light artillery, have particularly distinguished them selveS. You have driven and dispersed this arrays entered the town with them, daring every where terror and death. Nine pieces of cannon, the last the enemy had, remained in our hands, 42 ammu nition cars, two or 300 mules, some magazines of cloathing, of rice, bisctf t, 6000 muskets, some thon sands of prisoners, and a great number of killed; have completed your triumph. The enemy has al4 ready passed the frontiers of ArragOn. • Soldiers--After such fine results,, gained in four - days by your courage, you will learn to judge of your force; when confident in yourselves, and con . duaed by discipline s you will always be invincible. IVe will' inhabit camps--we will exercise ourselves in them—we Will form the young .men who come to our ranks, and Preserve that manly courage which constitutes the French armies: I will watch over your welfare, the country will furnish you subsis tence, and you by . your discipline will give security to the inhabitants. .You will bring hack to sub Mis sion and peace deluded men, viAms of some 'dm-. bitious Chief, and of .English intrigues. You *via cause to be esteemed by your conduel the Govern ment of the worthy brother of our great Emperor. I acknowledge my satisfaction with the Surgeons of the Army and Staff, for their zeal in follpwing the steps, of the army, and assisting the wounded. ' Ge nerals and Chiefs of corps will immediately acquaint me with all the. brave. Orficeri, Subalterns, and Sol diers who have merited recompendes in the two days. of Saragossa and Belchire. (Signed) SOUCHET i. • , ' Gen. in Chief and Gov.-Gen. of Arragon. (A true Copy) ST. CYR NUGUES. Chief of the Staff. NAPLES, Jutsm English have 'effeaed some partial disembarkations in Calabria, but attack ed by General .Ilonteneaux, they have been every where obliged to re-embark, after having lost a great many people, and being obligei to leave be him them more than 100 prisoners upon the shore. They have only sueceedfld in spreading oiclarna . . .. . , „it . int, whiell base been trarnpied• upon by the ita , habitant*..(joyrna/ de i'Empir, July ' I - .1 . . . ;...,. ..: . „ . MuNicii, Jts.l.i,ia .1, )2.—The uommittee for tht defence of the conntry, foi-Inecl by the Lro!et3e; , hold their sittings to the Goc'erniuent. pkilaim at insprnek. , .. .. . . The fanaticism of - these vehels risef; every dav,,- 1 ' They lately plUndered and stripped the hence of the Jew Utfenheitner, at Inspruck, on pretence o! hid having melted down silver, bought o f n ..:a the supprt Cloisters. His loss is estimated at 50,000 tiothiS: From, Vienna we hear that an interview between the Emperor ,Napoleon and the Emperor Alexandt is talked of: Couriers are daily passing hetwech, Vienna and Peteriburgh. They take their route through Leipzic. . . TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUk, • , . It has always been withgreat pleasure that I have read in the Daly Rtrytrs a Monthly Statement the Naval Force of the . United Kingdom of Great Britain, and I confess that it adds_ tomony important causes for.being proud of my country, and of my birth as an Englishman : yet, while I view with de light this boast ,of 'our nation, and the terror of out enemy, our naval power, I cannot but ted a high satisfaction in observing the state of out military force, which, at no one period of the history of this country Was so great in number, or, so effectual to discipline, as at the present time, and for which clinch' is due to our late CommandeT in Cliief, 1116 Royal' Highness the Duke of York. It will pro bably be gratifying to some of your nuinetout: Readers to see a brief account Of it,. drawn up with considerable care, and as nearly correct as it is pos sible to be. made—certainly not exaggerated ; bat; on the contra, rather 16sened than magnified. MILITARY FORCE OF GREAT BRITAIN. Cavalry, heavy and light, not including the Cer than Legion, 33 Regiments, - Infantry, Briiisli, io3 Ret,ii:ientti, making iS4 Bat taiious Eight West India Regirnent - Six Royal and Ceylon Regiments . - Eight foreign Regiments in Sicily and Malta Twelve Royal Veteran battalions - German Legion, Horse and Foot Corps of Engineers, Royal Horse and. font Artil lety, and Waggon Train Eigllt Garrison Battalions ? ' ,3,t00 ;2R,Sco S,6oC 4 , " s,boo io,o 0 16,700 it' 00 l'otal 2, 8,, 06 Of which there is-- ON ,FoREV2rN SERVICE, , 'lv tilt East And Wv , it 1na,,,, in Aincri,a, and oil the Continent—Cavalry, heavy and il h ht, British - Infantry, British, 76 Regiments,- making 8' 'tat zillions - - - Eight West India Regiments - . Six Royal and Ceylon Regiment& ' - - Eight Foreign Regiments in Sicily and Malta Male Royal Veteran I3attalions - - Ot the German Legion .. 4. . , Engineers, Horse and Foot Artillery, and Wat,goni Train - .- - , TotO on Foteign,Seiiice Leairing at home, in Regiments of the Line, Horse and Foot, on Garrison Duty, and fora par: or inn: present Expedition Total Military Force of Great 6,soc; sq.sno j,OOO SiOu6 .2,000 6,c00 5,63° 9i~~~~ IZ3;coa ',.58,c00 . The executive power- Of the Kingdom, is howe:. ver, not only able to provide and maintaih,a dispo sable force of upwards i 'of 206,000 men; regular troops,,for the protedion of our colonies, the safety of our settlements in all parts of the werld, and' for 'the attack of the enemy, - wherever most vulnerable ; but also to establish the most ample dornestie secti rity for the protedion of the Nation from invasion or assault of the :enemy; as will be seen from ttii following statement : , • In the United Kingdom t • thew are of the ie'gulat Militia: 74 English; Regiments, 37 Irish, and t 6 Scotch, maithig a joint Force of 12,7 Regi- ments, or in men - Of 1.6 cal Nli [lna, contpleatly organized in Offi. cers, 'Arms, and Clcathing, according to the last return. made to Parliament, since which they have been nearly doubled Of Volunteers Horse and Footi at least - 76,ioci ii 4 100.6 19,Ed0 'total 250,000 Fo'r the internal Defence of the Country. To which may 13. e added, tin Ships of War, ,of various rates, manned by r3o,eori Seamen and Marines. NAVAL AND MILITARY FORCE OF 611.13 At BRITAI B kECAPITULATED. Regular Trocips, Korse'and Foot liegular"Miltia Local Militia - - - Volunteers, Mont and Foot Ships of War, nianned , lsy - 208,000 76,2 ca 154,000 19,000 130,00 Total aggregate Force of die United Kingdom - 58S,ac;o But Sir, for the defence of the COantry, we have ate additional security not yet enunieraterl; I, meat that internal love of it Which every Englishman feels, an amor Patrice which nothing can eradicate, not force subdue, it is, a constiousness of posessing, in laws, property, and enjoyment's, those blessingi which no people under heaven besides durselves possess, and as they constitute our, invaltiable,birtli right; ,so thoy. are to' be defended at the ekpence of all that is most dear to. us: This birth-fight Wts legacy left us by our forefatheis, not to'be alienated; never to be parted with ; to be improved; and to be transmitted to pdsterity; to the latest period of time. It is a birth-right which has been; and, thank God, still remains to be cherished and protected by a justly beloVed Monarch, venerable by age, andeti;. 'cleared by his virtues—who has been, and, it is most devoutly hoped will long be, the boastand happineS6 of Iris People.- • . , The' Court Martial on Lord Gg.Ntßigii. i 3 to 1 , 6 held on Monday nest at Portsihouth. All the Captains to be examined are ordered to eitiend at that timer • A shocking accident happened on Sunday ing at Windsor':--4 young man, who was on a sit to one - Of Mr. Bayley, the linen-draper's slrdp men, having gone with his friend and another shop.; man to bathe in the Thames, they all got, out of theit depth, and it is supposed; were seized with the cretrip,;- the young man and one of the thopmen were unfortunately drowned; the other was with much djffictilty gOt out. The bodies Were a short time found and brought to shore, and every means recommended" ` by the Humane Society used, but witliutatffect.